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Órgano Oficial del Hospital Angeles Health System

2003, Number 2

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Acta Med 2003; 1 (2)

Effect of an external intensive care consultant in a closed intensive therapy unit

Sánchez VLD, Reyes SME, Aguilar PLF, Montoya RJ, Heredia GJ

Language: Spanish
References: 20
Page: 87-92
PDF size: 60.98 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Introduction: Intensivist external participation in management of the critical patient is more common in the intensive care unit (ICU) despite the presence of full-time intensivists in the unit. Objective: To determine the consequences of this practice on morbidity, mortality, and resources use. Material and methods: Cohort study in a private ICU over 4 years. Two groups of patients were formed: A. Those treated by external intensivists, and B. Those treated by the ICU team. Demographic, external intensivist participation, APACHE II, complications, and resource use data were collected. The Ethical Committee granted approval. Independent sample Student t and chi-square tests. p χ 2 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 700 patients were enrolled. Group A consisted of 87 patients (12.4%) seen by external intensivists, and group B, 613 patients (87.6%) seen by the UCI staff. There were no differences between groups at entrance. During ICU stay, there were more resource use, nosocomial infections, attributable mortality, and ICU length of stay in group A (p χ 2 0.05). Conclusions: External intensivist participation in management of critical patients produces greater resource use, nosocomial infection, and attributable mortality. Therefore, this practice must be discouraged.


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